Power washing centrifugal separator



1953 J. R. ORELIND POWER WASHING CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR Original FiledSept. 8, 1947 Jafuz UMP/Zin Elma, O

Patented Feb. 24, 1953 POWER WASHING CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR John R.Orelind, Wilmette, Il1., assignor to International Harvester Company, acorporation of New Jersey Original application September 8, 1947, SerialNo. 772,837. Divided and this application July 31, 1951, Serial No.239,430

Claims. 1

This invention which is a division of co-pending application Serial No.772,837 fiied September 8, 1947, which became Patent No. 2,603,413 onJuly 15, 1952, relates to a centrifugal separator, and more particularlyto a power washing cream separator. More specifically, it relates to apower washing cream separator having improved means for washing thecream separating bowl.

In power washing centrifugal separators of the type with which thepresent invention is concerned, a high speed separating bowl is providedwith a plurality of superposed separating discs. A washing liquiddischarge opening is provided at the maximum internal periphery of thebowl and this opening is controlled by centrifugal valve means.

After the separating operation, washing liquid is introduced at the topof the separating bowl and upon a lowered speed of rotation of said bowlthe centrifugal valve means operates to permit the escape of the washingliquid. In this manner the internal parts of the separating bowl arethoroughly washed without the necessity of disassembling the bowl parts.The centrifugal force of the water scours the inner surfaces of the bowlso that power washing is effected. Power washing separators of this typeare generally provided with a plurality of superposed separating discshaving center holes in alignment with one another to provide acylindrical space extending axially of the bowl. The individual discsmust have their surfaces thoroughly cleaned and washed, and theseparated inner peripheral edges of the discs provide the entrances forthe washing liquid that flows between and scours the surfaces of thediscs.

It is exceedingly important that sufficient washing liquid be directedtoward the inner peripheral edges of the discs since the most difficultplace to wash is at this location. It is desirable, therefore, to directwashing fluid along the inner peripheral edges of the discs in acontrolled and predetermined amount.

It is applicants prime object therefore to provide a constructionwherein predetermined amounts of washing liquid can be efficientlydirected toward the inner peripheries of the discs.

Still another object is to provide a power washing cream separating bowlhaving in combination therewith a stationary supply can provided with anannular deflector disc arranged to deflect predetermined quantities ofwashing liquid directly against the inner peripheral edges of aplurality of rotating separating discs.

A still further object is to provide a power washing cream separatingbowl having in combination therewith a deflector means arranged outsidesaid bowl, said deflector means including a fluted element arranged todirect a predetermined quantity of washing liquid against the innerperipheral edges of a disc pack within the bowl.

Other objects will become more readily apparent from a reading of thedescription and upon examination of the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view, partially in section, of a powerwashing centrifugal separator structure.

Figure 2 is a milk feed tube axially displaced above the deflectorelement.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1,showing an improved deflector element in plan elevation.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 2, a centrifugal cream separatorstructure is generally designated by the reference character It. Thecream separator structure I 0 includes a revoluble separating bowl IIhaving an upper bowl portion I2 and a lower bowl portion l3. Theseparator bowl I l is provided with a sloping inner wall [4 joined atits lower end by a downwardly extending annular rim IS. The upper bowlportion [2 also includes at its top end a collar l6 having conventionalskim milk outlets l1. At the apex of the inner sloping wall [4 with thedownwardly extending rim [5 there is provided a substantially continuouswashing liquid discharge outlet I8. The discharge outlet I8 is formed bymeans of a plurality of openings l9 separated by connecting elements 20.The upper bowl portion I2 and the lower bowl portion 13 are joined intelescoping and assembled relation by means of a snap split ring 2|.

The separating bowl H is provided with a disc pack consisting of aplurality of superposed separating discs 22. The outer peripheral edgesof the separating discs 22 are supported on'a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced upwardly extending wings 23 only one of whichis shown. The wings 23 are spaced to provide a support for a centrifugalvalve element or rubber sealing ring indicated at l8. Each separatingdisc is provided with at least one eccentric opening 24, the openingsbeing in vertical alignment with one another to form a passageway 25.

A milk inlet tube 26 is centrally positioned for rotation therewith onthe lower bowl portion [3. The inlet tube 26 is in communication with adistributor chamber 21, which communicates with the passageway 25. Eachdisc is provided with a centrally disposed opening 28, and the innerperipheral edge of each opening is in alignment with the others toprovide a substantially cylindrical space 29 extending axially of thebowl II. A skim milk dividing collar 30 is provided on the uppermostdisc 22.

The lower bowl portion 13 is provided with a downwardly extending creamoutlet 3|, the upper end of which is in communication with thecylindrical space 29. A driving member 32 projects upwardly into thelower bowl portion I3. The driving member 32 is driven by an electricpower unit 33, and is connected to the bowl portion l3 by means of a key34.

A liquid supply container 35 is positioned above the separating bowl Il. The supply container 35 includes a discharge spout or conduit 36extending downwardly toward the separating bowl. The lower end of thedischarge spout, or conduit 36, is supported on an annular collar 31forming the upper end of a stationary tinware structure generallydesignated by the reference character 38. The tinware structure 38includes a skim milk receiving chamber 39 and a cream receiving chamber49. The skim milk receiving chamber 39 is in communication with a skimmilk discharge spout 40' and the cream receiving chamber 40 is incommunication with a cream discharge spout 4|.

A washing liquid deflector element is shown in Figures 1 through 3. Thedeflector element shown is generally designated by the referencecharacter 55. The element includes a plurality of spiral fluted openings56 and also a centrally disposed opening 51. A milk feed tube 58 havingan annular shoulder 59 is axially movable to close and open thedischarge spout 36. The milk feed tube 58 also includes a narrowtapering conduit 60 which is adapted to be inserted through the centralopening 51 of the deflector element 55. A valve member BI is providedfor regulating the flow of fluid through the tapering conduit 50. Figure4 shows the axial displacement of the milk feed tube 58 so that therelationship of the parts may be more clearly apparent.

The separating operation of the cream separating bowl is conventional.Whole milk from the supply can 35 is free to course downwardly throughthe tapering conduit 60 upon the displacement of the valve element 6!.The skim milk escapes through the skim milk openings i! to the skim milkreceiving chamber 39. The cream leaves the bowl through the cream outlet3i and thereupon flows into the cream receiving chamber 40. Theseparating speed may be somewhere near 10,000 R. P. M.

After the separating operation is completed, the operator fills theliquid supply container 35 with a washing liquid. The milk feed tube 58is thereupon axially displaced upwardly and washing liquid thereupondescends downwardly through the discharge conduit 36. As the washingliquid engages the spiral flutes of the deflector element 55, it isdivided into a plurality of individual spirally directed streams bymeans of the fluted openings 56 defined by spiral flutes 56. The flutedopenings 56 and flutes 55 are so arranged that the individual streams ofwater are whirled spirally, directed downwardly and radially outwardlyagainst the inner peripheral edges of the separating discs. Theindividual streams of water are thereupon broken up by the innerperipheral edges of the discs and. the water thereupon is whirledcentrifugally outwardly between said discs. In this manner a sufficientquantity of washing liquid is properly directed to clean the mostdifficult surfaces, namely, the surfaces of the separating discs. Asthis water is whirled centrifugally outwardly the speed of rotation ofthe separating bowl decreases until a speed of approximately 6,000 R. P.M. is reached. At this point the valve ring 18 contracts sufliciently topermit the washing liquid to be discharged through the discharge openingl8. A small quantity of washing liquid descends through the central hole5'! of the deflector element 55. This quantity is directed downwardlyinto the milk inlet tube 26 and serves to wash this tube and thedistributor chambers 21.

The deflector element 55 is stationary and the streams of washing liquidwhich descend through the openings are directed to strike the innerperipheral edges of the rotating disc pack. Immediately upon strikingthese surfaces the streams are broken up and particles of water arepumped centrifugally outwardly by virtue of the centrifugal forceactuated by the rotating bowl.

It can thus be seen that the objects of the invention have been fullyachieved. Applicant has provided a deflector element which isstationarily positioned outside of a rotating bowl. This deflectorelement is constructed and arranged to direct quantities of washingliquid against the inner peripheral edges of the separating discs. Thusapplicant directs the washing liquid to the place where it is mostneeded. It is to be understood that modiflcations and changes may bemade in this construction which do not depart from the spirit of theinvention as disclosed nor the scope thereof as defined in the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. A power washing centrifugal separator comprising a rotatable bowl, apack of frusto-conical discs within said bowl, said discs having centerholes, the inner peripheral edges of which are in substantial axialalignment with one another to form a substantially cylindrical spaceextending axially of said bowl, the combination therewith of a liquidsupply container positioned above said bowl, a discharge conduit on saidsupply container, and a stationary deflector means supported on saiddischarge conduit, said deflector means including a fluted memberarranged above the cylindrical space of said bowl to receive and directquantities of washing liquid from said discharge conduit radiallyoutwardly against the inner peripheral edges of said discs.

2. A power washing centrifugal separator comprising a rotatable bowl, apack of frusto-conical discs within said bowl, said discs having centerholes, the inner peripheral edges of which are in substantial axialalignment with one another to form a substantially cylindrical spaceextending axially of said bowl, the combination therewith of a liquidsupply container positioned above said bowl, a discharge conduit on saidsupply container, and a stationary deflector means supported Within saiddischarge conduit, said deflector means including a fluted memberarranged above the cylindrical space of said bowl spirally to directindividual streams of Washing liquid from said discharge conduit againstthe inner peripheral edges of said discs.

3. A power washing centrifugal separator comprising a rotatable bowl, apack of frusto-conical discs within said bowl, said discs having centerholes, the inner peripheral edges of which are in substantial axialalignment with one another to form a substantially cylindrical spaceextending axially of said bowl, a milk distributor chamber incommunication with said cylindrical space for rotation with said bowl,discharge openings at the outer peripheral edge of said bowl, and valvemeans for regulating the discharge of washing liquid from said bowl, thecombination therewith of a supply container, said supply containerhaving a discharge conduit, a milk feed tube within said dischargeconduit, said milk feed tube being of substantially less diameter thansaid discharge conduit and in axial alignment with said milk inlet tube,and a fluted deflector means positioned in an annular space formed bythe outer peripheral surface of the milk feed tube and the innerperipheral surface of the discharge conduit, said deflector means beingarranged to direct washing liquid from the supply container against theinner peripheral edges of said discs.

4. A power washing centrifugal separator comprising a rotatable bowl, apack of frusto-conical discs within said bowl, said discs having centerholes, the inner peripheral edges of which are in substantial axialalignment with one another to form a substantially cylindrical spaceextending axially of said bowl, a milk distributor chamber incommunication with said cylindrical space for rotation with said bowl,discharge openings at the outer peripheral edge of said bowl, and valvemeans for regulating the discharge of washing liquid from said bowl, thecombination therewith of a supply container, said supply containerhaving a discharge conduit, a milk feed tube within said dischargeconduit, said milk feed tube being of substantially less diameter thansaid discharge conduit and in axial alignment with said milk inlet tube,and a deflector means, said deflector means being supported and.extending transversely within said discharge conduit, the deflectormeans including flutes arranged to direct washing liquid deliveredthrough said discharge spout against the inner peripheral edges of saiddiscs.

5. A power washing centrifugal separator comprising a rotatable bowl, apack of frusto-conical discs within said bowl, said discs having centerholes, the inner peripheral edges of which are in substantial axialalignment with one another to form a substantially cylindrical spaceextending axially of said bowl, a milk distributor chamber incommunication with said cylindrical space for rotation with said bowl,discharge openings at the outer peripheral edge of said bowl, and valvemeans for regulating the discharge of washing liquid from said bowl, thecombination therewith of a supply container, said supply containerhaving a discharge conduit, a milk feed tube within said dischargeconduit, said milk feed tube being of substantially less diameter thansaid discharge conduit and in axial alignment with said milk inlet tube,and a deflector means positioned transversely within the dischargeconduit, said deflector means having a centrally disposed openingencircling the milk feed tube, spiral flutes on said deflector means,said spiral flutes defining with said discharge conduit a plurality ofsubstantially spirally extending openings, the openings being arrangedto direct washing liquid entering into said discharge conduit againstthe inner peripheral edges of said discs.

JOHN R. ORELIND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,738,258 Naess Dec. 3, 19292,138,468 Ayres Nov. 29, 1938 2,173,580 Fawcett Sept. 19, 1939 2,473,948Harstick June 21, 1949

